Judge told killer was mentally ill

KILLER Sabina Eriksson who stabbed a 54-year-old man to death will learn her fate today.

The 42-year-old Swede stabbed Glenn Hollinshead four times at his home in Duke Street, Fenton, on May 20 last year.

She denied murder, but pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility at Nottingham Crown Court in September.

A hearing to decide her sentence began at Luton Crown Court yesterday and will conclude today.

Prosecutor Christopher Hotten QC told sentencing judge Mr Justice Saunders that Eriksson, pictured, a mother-of-two, came to England with her twin sister Ursula from her home in County Cork, Ireland, on Saturday, May 17 last year.

The sisters boarded a coach to London but when it stopped at Keele Services they got off.

Instead of re-boarding, their behaviour attracted the attention of staff, who called the police.

Officers tracked the duo down to the M6 where they both cheated death by running across the motorway.

Ursula was knocked down by a lorry and seriously injured and Eriksson was knocked down by a car.

Despite being unconscious for about 13 minutes she got back to her feet and ran back on to the carriageway. She later struck a police officer.

Mr Hotten QC said: "There was a violent struggle. It took six people to arrest her."

Eriksson received minor injuries and was seen by several doctors who found nothing wrong with her physically or mentally.

On Monday, May 19 Eriksson appeared at North Staffordshire Magistrates' Court where she received one day's detention for assaulting a police officer and trespassing on the motorway.

It was considered served and she was released from court.

She met Mr Hollinshead as he walked home from The Royal Oak pub in City Road, Fenton, and stayed at his house.

At about 7.45pm the next day she stabbed Mr Hollinshead four times.

Mr Hotten QC said: "The force required to inflict these wounds was, at least, moderate force. There were no defensive wounds to the deceased."

Eriksson ran from the house with a lump hammer and was seen hitting herself on the head with it at the Heron Cross roundabout of the A50.

When paramedics arrived she jumped about 40ft on to the A50.

Mr Justice Saunders yesterday heard from two psychiatrists who have assessed Eriksson.

Both concluded she was suffering from a mental disorder during the M6 incident and the manslaughter. They also agree she is not suffering from any mental disorder at present.

Mr Hotten QC said on the diagnosis of one of the experts, Dr Carol McDaniel, there is a significant risk of Eriksson committing further offences.